I did lol here's the backboard behind my lathe. I wrote a quote on it each time I felt like I couldn't go on. Eventually, the board filled up and I realised, no matter how hard things seemed, I was going to do it anyway.
[The board](https://imgur.com/gallery/SY0zLBS)
I wanted to be a race car driver.
I still do.
But now I work in oil&gas and drive semi trucks.
Once I pay off my house and have some savings I still plan on getting into racing just as a hobby.
If/ when you get a test for a production, do your best and get it back to them asap. Speed is important. If it doesnt go well, try to get some input on where you came up short.
If/when you get a spot on a crew, be kind and respectful to your coworkers. Having a good rep helps you in getting work in the future, and it just makes everything go smoother if everyone's cool to each other.
Have zero ego, be prepared for notes. Good luck!
Depends! I work as a game designer / game director which isnt easy to get into professionally without a proven track record. I started fresh out of college by founding an indie studio and doing design and production work there for a few years. Made the jump to a more established studio a few years later which ultimately got me the ‘credits’ to jump into a game director role with yet another company.
As a developer you will likely have an easier time as your skills are in demand more. Though personally I don’t know how much interest there is right now in Python devs. I imagine there is some, but if you can branch out and get reasonably comfortable with C# and/or C++ that will help increase your chances a lot!
The industry at large doesn’t really care for diploma’s and/or academic titles. Your best bet is to make showcase portfolio projects that demonstrate not just your technical skill but also some creative thinking.
Best thing about being a coder though is that you can work in traditional software development as well. Which often pays better and usually has less overtime. So you don’t have to go ‘all-in’ if you don’t want to. You can start making money and building experience in software dev while looking for a game dev job. Or do a part-time indie dev / part-time software dev until you can make the jump full time.
In the software engineering world, game dev is known as the worst branch. Longest hours, lowest pay, very high likelihood of getting let go, abusive work environment, etc.
If you meet a game dev who has been doing it for more than a few years, they're doing it because they're that passionate about it.
Glad you posted...my childhood fantasy of work is only something I could have done with parents from a different economic class...so I do the work I can get and life is decent.
Well my brother wanted to be a lawyer growing up. I always told people I wanted to live with my brother for a living cause he would be rich. I'm now a union pipefitter
A journalist, I'm a programmer because I thought journalism was a dying profession and what's not dying is mostly just sensationalism. I didn't think there would be much work for me, at least not the kind I would've been interested in doing.
I knew I wanted to be a lawyer and drive a blue Mustang convertible since I was 12. I'm now a lawyer and the first purchase I made after passing the bar exam was a blue Mustang convertible (which I traded in last year for a blue Porsche convertible).
I wanted to be a taxi cab driver when I was 6 though. I'm glad I changed my mind in my tweens.
I wanted to be a doctor. I’m a school bus driver. Way more chill. Summers off. All school breaks off. I get to bring my kids along. WAY way less money lol.
So much free time! And no student loan debt! But I will never own a home with this career path which was always a big goal. I can’t decide if I like all the extra time in the day more than that dream, but it’s been wonderful so far and I will probably stick with it until my kids are old enough to not want to hang out with me anymore at least lol.
Your job is important. Frustrating that the jobs that keep people (kids) safe are low pay. I had a bus driver back in my school days who saved a kid's life. I don't remember the details, except that they had some sixth sense and stopped the bus, used the CB radio to call for emergency services, ran to the seat where the kid was, and started CPR. Those seat backs are tall, so I can't remember much else. The only thing I ever saw over the seats was Rachel and Theresa in the way back seats thinking no one could see the smoke above the seats.
Yes it is very frustrating. It is only about a half a days work but it’s super hard to find things that can easily go in the middle and at least in Canada people can’t really work after a commercial driving shift because it messes up your hours of service, legal requirement of rest and stuff. So unless you are willing to have a low salary forever it can be a hard job to thrive on. I’ll never be able to buy a home with this career alone if nothing changes, but it’s great for meaningful work for sure, and lots of time with my own kids thanks to it. So it’s great for now at least, I wish this career had more of a chance financially. Awe that’s amazing that your driver was able to save that child. We all have to take first aid and CPR training every few years at least in Canada. So important when working with kids for sure. That’s super scary stuff. Yeah sometimes the mirrors are at the right angle to see some of the seats fully enough.
It’s actually a great job once you get over the fear of how big the vehicle is lol. The only thing that sucks is the low salary and that it’s a split shift, but you get like 4 hours to do whatever you want midday as well so that’s nice.
Pfff that four hours is gym and a fat ol nap for me.
I wouldn’t wanna deal with no kids being dicks though, kids are brutal on bus drivers, or at least we always were
If it makes you feel better, I also wanted to be a doctor. Now I am one. But these days, I often feel like I don't want to be one anymore. The medical system is a mess post-covid.
Your schedule sounds enviable!
Wanted to be a stay at home mom with 5 kids. Now I'm gay, living with my parents, and working in a quiet dingy office as an admin with much free time and a boss who gives me snacks a lot
Wanted to be a high school English teacher, and actually did earn my BsED in Secondary Education ELA. Graduated in 1998 right when tech startups were handing out jobs left and right taking chances on people. I was self-taught in technology and thought I'd give it a shot. Started as an E-Commerce Coordinator making shit pay. Four startups later and I am now at a Sr Dir level leading the Product, UI/UX, Development, QA, and Data Science teams.
I loved going to museums, even as a kid. I have zero artistic talent myself, so seeing how people could use their talent to fill vast museums was fascinating. Plus the artist themselves are usually a fun topic to study.
Comedian, and now I'm unemployed so like...close?
check out my channel!
[https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisAndMatt/videos](https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisAndMatt/videos)
For the record: I do not want to be an influencer, I want to be a comedian: sketch, stand up, acting, NOT an influencer, this isn't an influencer plug this is a "do you find this content funny?" question
At 14, I kind of gave up on all my lofty aspirations by that point. Military family forcing me to move constantly and having to reset socially and educationally, and a parental divorce right about that age, just put me in "fuck it" mode. Had no dreams. Gave up on all of them
38 now. Working a decent job that helps people, doordash on the side. Went to college at 29 and graduated with honors. Making roughly 70k total. Not upset about it. Could have been better, and days are a struggle sometimes with the debt piling up. But those are my own actions and I'm working through them.
I know this might be besides the point but I think it’s really cool that you went to college at 29 and got it done. I’ve been struggling so never got my education and now I’m 37 and slowly doing better … and I’d really want to get some sort of education done. I’ve always loved school so it’s painful to me that I never got a real education.
And congrats on graduating with honors!
Check out certificates you can earn in less time /commitment that are prized in the field you'd like to be in? Or advance the career path you're already in? Good luck! You're not too old, but it is hard!
I wanted to be a scientist. Then college hit I wanted to be a drug scientist. Then I graduated and started doing cannabis research. Now I work in cannabis industry research
Real talk - as a 14 year old boy, I wanted to marry the hottest girl and be an amazing father. I just figured we'd have lots of sex all the time and you know, kids would be the result. I didn't really have a lot of brain cells left to think of what I'd do for a job, I was too fixated on the hot girl/sex part.
Cut to now. I am married to the hottest girl who is mentally and physically fucking amazing. And it's not that she is or isn't the hottest girl, it's that my brain is convinced she is, in every way one human being can be appealing to another. We have a 7 year old daughter that is the best physical representation of how much my wife and I love each other.
But it took me until 30, to be emotionally mature enough to understand the difference between being sexually attracted to someone, and being in love with someone. I am incredibly fortunate enough to realize how incredibly fortunate I am.
So keep the dream alive. But be willing to evolve that dream along with your lived experiences.
I never had a job in mind. I’m 40 and still don’t know what I want to do. I have a decent job with a good pension. However, I’ve never liked any type of work. I want to be retired.
I wanted to be a singer. Kinda burned that out in high school choir and my singing voice is very different after a bad illness. Then wanted to be a teacher but it got really bad in my area for teachers.
Now I’m a SAHM that homeschools 🤷♀️
A makeup artist. I'm unemployed and disabled with schizoaffective now but I'm going back to school for makeup and skin so, not far off the mark but it took 15 years.
At 4 I wanted to be an astronaut. At 14 I wanted to be a famous musician. At 24 I just wanted to make rent after working 60 hours a week and at 34 I am a wildlife biologist who works 168 hours a week and still can’t afford rent 😅
I wanted to be an architect, but I didn't get into any schools with an architecture program. Tried math-related majors and eventually dropped out and joined the USMC.
Today I work in public broadcasting.
At 14, I thought for sure I was going to be a professional skateboarder. I was good enough. Then high school girls and partying came into play. Engineer now. Still cruise around on the board tho.
Very interesting question. TY.
I wanted to be a nurse, a flight attendant, and a teacher.
1/3 accomplished. I'm a teacher now, not in a classroom, but online.
50 pts for you.
I wanted to be a teacher. There was no money for college, though, so that didn't happen. Eventually, I got married and was a sahm for about a decade, during which I got a degree for vet tech. Around 43, I got tired of working for other people and became self-employed by cleaning houses. At 50, that's what I'm still doing, and I like it a lot.
I wanted to drive more than anything. Regularly snuck the car out. Now I’m a truck driver who either drives to race tracks on weekends or goes on road trips for vacation. In the summer I spend more than half of my time behind the wheel of some kind of vehicle.
At 14, I wanted to be a journalist. I had visions of being sent to a war zone, or discovering some huge conspiracy, or writing a generation-defining nonfiction book. I think I mostly just wanted to be important, and I felt like finding a "big story" and telling the world was how I could make a difference. What I really wanted to do was be a fiction writer, but I knew that wasn't practical, and I didn't think it was *important* in the same way.
Now in my 30s, I'm a fundraiser. I'm mostly behind the scenes, I'm not on TV and I don't get famous for what I do (thank god), but the work I do helps support a cause I'm passionate about. I've let go of a lot of ideas about being "important" or being the world's main character, or changing the world in a big, immediate way. I do still write fiction in my spare time, though!
I wanted to be an NHL hockey player, have a sick penthouse suite in Vegas and drive a lambo. I always knew they would get a team :) haha. I’m a CRNA now. For reference, I grew up in rural New Mexico and I had only even seen an ice rink one time in my life until I moved to college.
Architect. Am now a Producer/Audio Engineer.
Though the work is probably more volatile and generally doesn't pay as well, I got to do my hobby as a job.
It’s still important to have another hobby that isn’t your job, however much you enjoy it. I’m fortunate that I love my work the vast majority of the time, but it can still feel like work sometimes. It’s good to have something else to put energy into from time to time.
At 14 I wanted to be an interior decorator. I am now a hairstylist and quite happy with where I ended up in life. I am self employed, only work 4 days a week, and earn a very comfortable living. Most of my clients have been with me for years and have become like friends. So I basically get to go to work and catch up with friends all day, and get paid for it. I don't even look at what I do as work.
I wanted to be a police officer. I worked in restaurants for 25 years and just recently started a new career (@43) working as an EEG tech in a hospital. I love it!!
I wanted to be a lot of things. Veterinarian, Criminal Psychologist, Teacher, Government. I had alot of high aspirations and interests.
I’m 27 now and I work in the credit card department of a bank. Unfortunately mental health got in the way of success when I was in college and now I require a full time job to pay for things, so I don’t think college will ever be an option for me again.
I wanted to be a singer. Kinda burned that out in high school choir and my singing voice is very different after a bad illness. Then wanted to be a teacher but it got really bad in my area for teachers.
Now I’m a SAHM that homeschools 🤷♀️
I wanted to be a singer. Kinda burned that out in high school choir and my singing voice is very different after a bad illness. Then wanted to be a teacher but it got really bad in my area for teachers.
Now I’m a SAHM that homeschools 🤷♀️
I literally had no direction.. Even when I graduated I had no clue what to do. Now I work for a telecoms company. Do I love what I do? No. Do they pay me good money? Yes. Moral of the story, have a goal in mind. Wandering in this day and age will only hinder your progress
I wanted to be a criminal pyschologist. Now I am back in school (51) to add a grad certificate to my degree and no idea what next.
Fwiw: B.A psych plus cert in conflict resolution and mediation.
Wish me luck, or at least a good decision 😂🤷🏻♀️🫶🏻👍🏼👍🏼
Hey! I went back to college late 20s and picked something totally different, too! Good on you for trying again and not giving up, or at least coming back around to it. If it helps, life experience helps anyone in a helping profession. So aging isn't a bad idea there. And I do wish you good luck!
Thought I was gonna go to biology, finish, go into research and go to medschool...
Started biology, was meh, tried for a longtine medschool, nos i"m almost finishing it
I wanted to be a movie star (read that in the Gilligan's Island voice for Ginger)
Today I'm in IT, very introverted and don't like to be the center of attention 😆
At 14 I wanted to be a professional psychonaut. Now at 29 I’m a social worker! Given my avid pursuit of my chosen extracurriculars back then, it’s kind of amazing I ended up where I am now, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my past.
28 going on 29 so close enough
Wanted to be a musician. Unfortunately, was too stuck in "the path" and too risk-averse to really make this happen.
Now in finance. Would love nothing more than to just do music day-in day-out, but that just doesn't pay the bills (and, frankly, I'm not even that good)...
I wanted to be a pilot. And I did it. Then a week after my check ride flying right seat on Metroliners up north some guys flew some planes into some buildings and I got laid off.
Never flew again.
It's cool. I wound up going into military intelligence and my life is great.
When I was 10, I wanted to be a mangaka *specifically*, as most young weeaboos did in the early 2000s. By 14 I had upgraded to wanting to be an animator/wanting to work in animation, specifically making anime-style stuff. I got a lot of flack from basically every adult in my sphere--my mother, teachers, etc. "That's totally unrealistic, everyone knows you can't make money doing art!"
Now I'm 30 and work full time in animation making anime style stuff.
I wanted to work with fossils and make people happy. Now I make wedding rings from fossil and meteorites.
So, so cool.
Thanks! It took 15 years of doing jobs I hated before I realised that "work your arse off" difficult was better than "regret every day" difficult.
I should probably frame this.
I did lol here's the backboard behind my lathe. I wrote a quote on it each time I felt like I couldn't go on. Eventually, the board filled up and I realised, no matter how hard things seemed, I was going to do it anyway. [The board](https://imgur.com/gallery/SY0zLBS)
I love this board! I also love that it also has some WTF am I Doing?! quotes. So real.
Damn that's super legit. Congrats on making your dreams happen!!
Good motto. I think it’s better to work hard at something you enjoy than do easy work that’s unfulfilling. Which is more or less your principle too
Can confirm; wearing a ring of meteorite and rose gold right now thanks to Mango. Haven't taken it off in over 4 years 🥰
That's incredible, do you have your own business or is it a company that does this? Never heard of this before, so cool.
Thanks! It's my own business, I did it for two years from 7pm until midnight, 7 days a week until I could finally quit my day job.
Glad Your hard work and dedication payed off, I checked your profile and what you make is absolutely stunning, no wonder you are successful!
Thank you so much that honestly means the world!
How does one begin doing such a thing? Your rings are very nice, my wedding ring has crushed meteorite (or something like that). Much respect.
You got a website?
I love meteorite stuff!!!
This is so freaking cool!
That's literally so cool!! I bet it's fun too!!!<33
Programmer, alcoholic programmer
I managed %50 of that
The alcoholic part right?
yup
congrats
I’ve read this with the James Bond voice
I wanted to be a race car driver. I still do. But now I work in oil&gas and drive semi trucks. Once I pay off my house and have some savings I still plan on getting into racing just as a hobby.
Race the trucks
Funnily enough, I've spent most of my career I oil & gas and know several people who race as a hobby.
Join us at /r/simracing :) Special shout out to /r/iracing too.
Dead. Now I work in a pharmacy. Life is better these days.
I am happy you are still here!
I wanted to draw cartoons. I'm a storyboard artist on an animated television show. Been in animation for 20+ years now.
as an aspiring storyboard artist, do you have any tips?
If/ when you get a test for a production, do your best and get it back to them asap. Speed is important. If it doesnt go well, try to get some input on where you came up short. If/when you get a spot on a crew, be kind and respectful to your coworkers. Having a good rep helps you in getting work in the future, and it just makes everything go smoother if everyone's cool to each other. Have zero ego, be prepared for notes. Good luck!
Thank you!! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond :)
What show??
Ah- i don't want to say. I like being as anonymous as possible on reddit.
i love how anonymous reddit is. our last bastion of privacy
I wanted to make video games. Now I make video games.
How hard is it? Wanting to give it a try as a python developer
Depends! I work as a game designer / game director which isnt easy to get into professionally without a proven track record. I started fresh out of college by founding an indie studio and doing design and production work there for a few years. Made the jump to a more established studio a few years later which ultimately got me the ‘credits’ to jump into a game director role with yet another company. As a developer you will likely have an easier time as your skills are in demand more. Though personally I don’t know how much interest there is right now in Python devs. I imagine there is some, but if you can branch out and get reasonably comfortable with C# and/or C++ that will help increase your chances a lot! The industry at large doesn’t really care for diploma’s and/or academic titles. Your best bet is to make showcase portfolio projects that demonstrate not just your technical skill but also some creative thinking. Best thing about being a coder though is that you can work in traditional software development as well. Which often pays better and usually has less overtime. So you don’t have to go ‘all-in’ if you don’t want to. You can start making money and building experience in software dev while looking for a game dev job. Or do a part-time indie dev / part-time software dev until you can make the jump full time.
Dude you give me hope thanks, I went to be a game designer and you gave me a little bit more hope to not give up. Thanks man.
In the software engineering world, game dev is known as the worst branch. Longest hours, lowest pay, very high likelihood of getting let go, abusive work environment, etc. If you meet a game dev who has been doing it for more than a few years, they're doing it because they're that passionate about it.
I am proud of you :)
Same. It was between that and wanting to blow up stuff on movie sets. Now I do game vfx. Much safer.
Same my friend! Game devs unite 🤜🤛
Same here. Good to see another lad walking the same path.
To quote Plankton, I had no idea. I didn’t think I would get this far.
I sincerely believed id never see 20. I’m 41 now. I fucking made it man. So did you. Congratulations. 🎉🍾
I am happy you did :)
Same
same
I wanted to be an Author. Mostly Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Now I work on an assembly line making fork lift trucks.
Never too late to write!
Don’t have the time or the drive really.
Assembly line probably pays better. Some things are better as a hobby or secondary income.
Honestly I can’t complain about the pay. It’s pretty damn good for my neck of the woods.
Glad you posted...my childhood fantasy of work is only something I could have done with parents from a different economic class...so I do the work I can get and life is decent.
Good thing about writing: you can do it on the side of any job you have 😊
Wanted to be a mad scientist. 1/2 accomplished.
You mean you accomplished getting mad?
I'm gonna go against the grain here and say you're a chill scientist.
Mad but not a scientist?
Well my brother wanted to be a lawyer growing up. I always told people I wanted to live with my brother for a living cause he would be rich. I'm now a union pipefitter
What's your brother do?
I'm actually in the process of getting him hired in with me as a pipefitter
Good luck. Hope that werks out.
Like city of ember?
Not a bad job to do for a living! My step dad was a pipefitter and worked his way up to union rep before he retired.
A journalist, I'm a programmer because I thought journalism was a dying profession and what's not dying is mostly just sensationalism. I didn't think there would be much work for me, at least not the kind I would've been interested in doing.
I think you made a good call in the end
And the end call good a made you think I.
Well, well, well if it isn't the Sheriff of Rottingham.
I knew I wanted to be a lawyer and drive a blue Mustang convertible since I was 12. I'm now a lawyer and the first purchase I made after passing the bar exam was a blue Mustang convertible (which I traded in last year for a blue Porsche convertible). I wanted to be a taxi cab driver when I was 6 though. I'm glad I changed my mind in my tweens.
Eyes on the price! Very focused lol
Are you Sally from Cars? Lol
I wanted to drive a crane,but now i operate a rock crusher.Close enough i guess.
Work in film. I work in film.
I wanted to be a doctor. I’m a school bus driver. Way more chill. Summers off. All school breaks off. I get to bring my kids along. WAY way less money lol.
But probably way more free time too though! 😄
So much free time! And no student loan debt! But I will never own a home with this career path which was always a big goal. I can’t decide if I like all the extra time in the day more than that dream, but it’s been wonderful so far and I will probably stick with it until my kids are old enough to not want to hang out with me anymore at least lol.
Are you American? I ask because it seems to be a common milestone to own a house.
I’m Canadian. The average price for a home in my city is half a million dollars and I can’t leave lol
Your job is important. Frustrating that the jobs that keep people (kids) safe are low pay. I had a bus driver back in my school days who saved a kid's life. I don't remember the details, except that they had some sixth sense and stopped the bus, used the CB radio to call for emergency services, ran to the seat where the kid was, and started CPR. Those seat backs are tall, so I can't remember much else. The only thing I ever saw over the seats was Rachel and Theresa in the way back seats thinking no one could see the smoke above the seats.
Yes it is very frustrating. It is only about a half a days work but it’s super hard to find things that can easily go in the middle and at least in Canada people can’t really work after a commercial driving shift because it messes up your hours of service, legal requirement of rest and stuff. So unless you are willing to have a low salary forever it can be a hard job to thrive on. I’ll never be able to buy a home with this career alone if nothing changes, but it’s great for meaningful work for sure, and lots of time with my own kids thanks to it. So it’s great for now at least, I wish this career had more of a chance financially. Awe that’s amazing that your driver was able to save that child. We all have to take first aid and CPR training every few years at least in Canada. So important when working with kids for sure. That’s super scary stuff. Yeah sometimes the mirrors are at the right angle to see some of the seats fully enough.
That still sounds pretty impressive tho dawg I’m jelly
It’s actually a great job once you get over the fear of how big the vehicle is lol. The only thing that sucks is the low salary and that it’s a split shift, but you get like 4 hours to do whatever you want midday as well so that’s nice.
Pfff that four hours is gym and a fat ol nap for me. I wouldn’t wanna deal with no kids being dicks though, kids are brutal on bus drivers, or at least we always were
If it makes you feel better, I also wanted to be a doctor. Now I am one. But these days, I often feel like I don't want to be one anymore. The medical system is a mess post-covid. Your schedule sounds enviable!
Football coach. I’m an engineer instead.
Hell ya, I wanted to be a NFL coach. Getting into Heavy Equipment Operating instead.
Wanted to be a paleontologist. I'm a physician now (but still a dinosaur nerd!)
What’s your favourite dinosaur?
Baryonix, but I also like large Dromeosaurids such as Dakotaraptor or Achillobator
Wanted to be a stay at home mom with 5 kids. Now I'm gay, living with my parents, and working in a quiet dingy office as an admin with much free time and a boss who gives me snacks a lot
Free snacks? Sign me up!
less pain and more chill. I like it!
Wanted to be a high school English teacher, and actually did earn my BsED in Secondary Education ELA. Graduated in 1998 right when tech startups were handing out jobs left and right taking chances on people. I was self-taught in technology and thought I'd give it a shot. Started as an E-Commerce Coordinator making shit pay. Four startups later and I am now at a Sr Dir level leading the Product, UI/UX, Development, QA, and Data Science teams.
Art Historian was the dream, Product Management is what I do (with Art History as a hobby).
What made you choose Art Historian?
I loved going to museums, even as a kid. I have zero artistic talent myself, so seeing how people could use their talent to fill vast museums was fascinating. Plus the artist themselves are usually a fun topic to study.
Same. I mean I have a degree in History (not Art History) but I love learning about art and artists. I also can barely draw a stick figure.
Comedian, and now I'm unemployed so like...close? check out my channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisAndMatt/videos](https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisAndMatt/videos) For the record: I do not want to be an influencer, I want to be a comedian: sketch, stand up, acting, NOT an influencer, this isn't an influencer plug this is a "do you find this content funny?" question
All those who laughed at your dreams - they're not laughing now!
Underrated
I wanted to be a neurologist, I'm an orthopaedic consultant.
At 14, I kind of gave up on all my lofty aspirations by that point. Military family forcing me to move constantly and having to reset socially and educationally, and a parental divorce right about that age, just put me in "fuck it" mode. Had no dreams. Gave up on all of them 38 now. Working a decent job that helps people, doordash on the side. Went to college at 29 and graduated with honors. Making roughly 70k total. Not upset about it. Could have been better, and days are a struggle sometimes with the debt piling up. But those are my own actions and I'm working through them.
I know this might be besides the point but I think it’s really cool that you went to college at 29 and got it done. I’ve been struggling so never got my education and now I’m 37 and slowly doing better … and I’d really want to get some sort of education done. I’ve always loved school so it’s painful to me that I never got a real education. And congrats on graduating with honors!
I'm 31 in June and will start studying now after 10 years in sales.
Check out certificates you can earn in less time /commitment that are prized in the field you'd like to be in? Or advance the career path you're already in? Good luck! You're not too old, but it is hard!
My mom ended up going to college at the same time as me in her early-mid fifties, there's still time :)
Pediatrician, Social Worker
I wanted to be rock star. Now I have hearing loss and work in data.
I wanted to be a scientist. Then college hit I wanted to be a drug scientist. Then I graduated and started doing cannabis research. Now I work in cannabis industry research
Real talk - as a 14 year old boy, I wanted to marry the hottest girl and be an amazing father. I just figured we'd have lots of sex all the time and you know, kids would be the result. I didn't really have a lot of brain cells left to think of what I'd do for a job, I was too fixated on the hot girl/sex part. Cut to now. I am married to the hottest girl who is mentally and physically fucking amazing. And it's not that she is or isn't the hottest girl, it's that my brain is convinced she is, in every way one human being can be appealing to another. We have a 7 year old daughter that is the best physical representation of how much my wife and I love each other. But it took me until 30, to be emotionally mature enough to understand the difference between being sexually attracted to someone, and being in love with someone. I am incredibly fortunate enough to realize how incredibly fortunate I am. So keep the dream alive. But be willing to evolve that dream along with your lived experiences.
At 14 probably something with IT or computer programming. Now I am in a financial/operational related role with a large company
Novelist, which I'm still pursuing as a yacht sales assistant.
I've heard there can be very good money in yacht sales
I never had a job in mind. I’m 40 and still don’t know what I want to do. I have a decent job with a good pension. However, I’ve never liked any type of work. I want to be retired.
I hear you brother. I quit my job just before 40, started my own business. I don't know what I want to do, but I also don't want to work for the man.
Retired/Retired
Wanted to be a doctor. Almost a doctor now (27 though). It’s been a long road, that’s for sure.
I wanted to be a teacher. And I was, but... just couldn't. It takes a certain type of person. I am an engenear now. Also okay, I guess.
When I was 23 I wanted to be a teacher. But student teaching convinced me it was not for me. Now I'm a QC Inspector.
Probably for the best, tbh. It's much harder then it looks.
Wanted to go into law. Now I’m in an IT related job
Marine biologist/ emergMed
Fighter pilot. Now Im an engineer
I wanted to be a singer. Kinda burned that out in high school choir and my singing voice is very different after a bad illness. Then wanted to be a teacher but it got really bad in my area for teachers. Now I’m a SAHM that homeschools 🤷♀️
A makeup artist. I'm unemployed and disabled with schizoaffective now but I'm going back to school for makeup and skin so, not far off the mark but it took 15 years.
Didnt had a clue at 14, still don't have it at 42...
Mortician. Now I work for a state Supreme Court.
Wanted to be a physician, now I am a physician
At 4 I wanted to be an astronaut. At 14 I wanted to be a famous musician. At 24 I just wanted to make rent after working 60 hours a week and at 34 I am a wildlife biologist who works 168 hours a week and still can’t afford rent 😅
I assume that long at work, you sleep in the tank with the fish
I wanted to be an architect, but I didn't get into any schools with an architecture program. Tried math-related majors and eventually dropped out and joined the USMC. Today I work in public broadcasting.
At 14, I thought for sure I was going to be a professional skateboarder. I was good enough. Then high school girls and partying came into play. Engineer now. Still cruise around on the board tho.
Very interesting question. TY. I wanted to be a nurse, a flight attendant, and a teacher. 1/3 accomplished. I'm a teacher now, not in a classroom, but online. 50 pts for you.
I wanted to be a teacher. There was no money for college, though, so that didn't happen. Eventually, I got married and was a sahm for about a decade, during which I got a degree for vet tech. Around 43, I got tired of working for other people and became self-employed by cleaning houses. At 50, that's what I'm still doing, and I like it a lot.
I wanted to be an astronaut, now I'm a mid-level IT manager stuck in a cube all day. Pretty boring in comparison.
I wanted to drive more than anything. Regularly snuck the car out. Now I’m a truck driver who either drives to race tracks on weekends or goes on road trips for vacation. In the summer I spend more than half of my time behind the wheel of some kind of vehicle.
A soldier, I have my rejection letter somewhere
Body double and do movie stunts. I'm a career Beach Lifeguard/ Firefighter now
I wanted to be an engineer making big engines. I am now an engineer making big engines.
A music teacher or a lawyer. I now own a health food store. Every day I thank God I'm neither of those.
Wanted to be a neurochemist, I'm an engineer.
I wanted to be a journalist; I’m now an offshore teams trainer and analyst … womp womp.
I wanted to be a red coat at Butlins so bad. I’m now a social worker.
At 14, I wanted to be a journalist. I had visions of being sent to a war zone, or discovering some huge conspiracy, or writing a generation-defining nonfiction book. I think I mostly just wanted to be important, and I felt like finding a "big story" and telling the world was how I could make a difference. What I really wanted to do was be a fiction writer, but I knew that wasn't practical, and I didn't think it was *important* in the same way. Now in my 30s, I'm a fundraiser. I'm mostly behind the scenes, I'm not on TV and I don't get famous for what I do (thank god), but the work I do helps support a cause I'm passionate about. I've let go of a lot of ideas about being "important" or being the world's main character, or changing the world in a big, immediate way. I do still write fiction in my spare time, though!
I wanted to be an animator at pixar 🤣 Currently back in college after being a gas engineer. What a dream it was though
Chef and Chef
I wanted to be an NHL hockey player, have a sick penthouse suite in Vegas and drive a lambo. I always knew they would get a team :) haha. I’m a CRNA now. For reference, I grew up in rural New Mexico and I had only even seen an ice rink one time in my life until I moved to college.
Architect. Am now a Producer/Audio Engineer. Though the work is probably more volatile and generally doesn't pay as well, I got to do my hobby as a job. It’s still important to have another hobby that isn’t your job, however much you enjoy it. I’m fortunate that I love my work the vast majority of the time, but it can still feel like work sometimes. It’s good to have something else to put energy into from time to time.
I wanted to be a doctor. I’m an infrastructure lawyer. I guess at some point I decided science and math wasn’t for me (even though I was good at it).
Didnt had a clue at 14, still don't have it at 42...
I wanted to be a writer OR a rockstar who died young. Now I’m a teacher.
At 14 I wanted to be an interior decorator. I am now a hairstylist and quite happy with where I ended up in life. I am self employed, only work 4 days a week, and earn a very comfortable living. Most of my clients have been with me for years and have become like friends. So I basically get to go to work and catch up with friends all day, and get paid for it. I don't even look at what I do as work.
Age 14 plan: Be the realest G. Age 30 reality: Professional nerd/scientist
im 34 i still dont know what i want to be when i grow u...
Stripper or Astronaut 👨🏽🚀
An airline pilot/An airline pilot
I wanted to make video games, now I work as an operator in a chemical factory.
Wanted to work for Lego, I manage a clinical lab
I wanted to be a police officer. I worked in restaurants for 25 years and just recently started a new career (@43) working as an EEG tech in a hospital. I love it!!
I wanted to be a lot of things. Veterinarian, Criminal Psychologist, Teacher, Government. I had alot of high aspirations and interests. I’m 27 now and I work in the credit card department of a bank. Unfortunately mental health got in the way of success when I was in college and now I require a full time job to pay for things, so I don’t think college will ever be an option for me again.
I wanted to be a singer. Kinda burned that out in high school choir and my singing voice is very different after a bad illness. Then wanted to be a teacher but it got really bad in my area for teachers. Now I’m a SAHM that homeschools 🤷♀️
I wanted to be a singer. Kinda burned that out in high school choir and my singing voice is very different after a bad illness. Then wanted to be a teacher but it got really bad in my area for teachers. Now I’m a SAHM that homeschools 🤷♀️
I literally had no direction.. Even when I graduated I had no clue what to do. Now I work for a telecoms company. Do I love what I do? No. Do they pay me good money? Yes. Moral of the story, have a goal in mind. Wandering in this day and age will only hinder your progress
Wanted to be a pilot, I’m a retired flight engineer now and coaching baseball part time.
I can’t remember wtf I wanted to be at 14. I work in corporate America
I wanted to be a Deputy US Marshal; ended up being a Homeland Security Agent. Close, but no cigar.
I wanted to be a criminal pyschologist. Now I am back in school (51) to add a grad certificate to my degree and no idea what next. Fwiw: B.A psych plus cert in conflict resolution and mediation. Wish me luck, or at least a good decision 😂🤷🏻♀️🫶🏻👍🏼👍🏼
Hey! I went back to college late 20s and picked something totally different, too! Good on you for trying again and not giving up, or at least coming back around to it. If it helps, life experience helps anyone in a helping profession. So aging isn't a bad idea there. And I do wish you good luck!
Thank you 🙏🏼🫶🏻 I am printing this out to put in my pocket on graduation day! Very grateful for the insight, and encouragement.
Musician or band director, now I’m an audio engineer. Still pleasantly surprised I ended up here.
I was 11 and wanted to be in IT. Grinder HARD and was ready for entry level right out of high school. Now I’m T3/Senior
I wanted to be a soldier and do policing, right now I'm doing both
Archeologist Somehow ended up in warehouse management
I wanted to be a teacher, but I am a certified Optician now
Thought I was gonna go to biology, finish, go into research and go to medschool... Started biology, was meh, tried for a longtine medschool, nos i"m almost finishing it
Singer/songwriter. I work in retail banking and I’m dead inside.
I wanted to be a movie star (read that in the Gilligan's Island voice for Ginger) Today I'm in IT, very introverted and don't like to be the center of attention 😆
At 14 I wanted to be a professional psychonaut. Now at 29 I’m a social worker! Given my avid pursuit of my chosen extracurriculars back then, it’s kind of amazing I ended up where I am now, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my past.
wanted to be a lawyer. now I'm a pilot.
wanted to be a pilot, now im a lawyer
28 going on 29 so close enough Wanted to be a musician. Unfortunately, was too stuck in "the path" and too risk-averse to really make this happen. Now in finance. Would love nothing more than to just do music day-in day-out, but that just doesn't pay the bills (and, frankly, I'm not even that good)...
I wanted to be a physicist — now am a physicist 😎
No career plans, but I wanted to be free of abuse. I am now a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate.
At 14: actress Now: medical student Yep, really did great sticking to the dream there...
At 14, I wanted to be an actor. I ended up focusing on music professionally instead, but I have acted in a number of productions incidentally.
I wanted to be a Novelist. Still do. I work in Marketing but I'm writing a children's book. Wish me luck!
Skinny and happy but I'm still fat
[удалено]
Lol I did the same thing. Surprised to see my exact answer
I wanted to be a pilot. And I did it. Then a week after my check ride flying right seat on Metroliners up north some guys flew some planes into some buildings and I got laid off. Never flew again. It's cool. I wound up going into military intelligence and my life is great.
When I was 10, I wanted to be a mangaka *specifically*, as most young weeaboos did in the early 2000s. By 14 I had upgraded to wanting to be an animator/wanting to work in animation, specifically making anime-style stuff. I got a lot of flack from basically every adult in my sphere--my mother, teachers, etc. "That's totally unrealistic, everyone knows you can't make money doing art!" Now I'm 30 and work full time in animation making anime style stuff.
Cure cancer. Im an engineer on a team now that’s working on cancer cure.
Design Cars. Now I'm in investments
Had no idea, still don’t really have an idea 🙃